Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-14
A NIGHTS LESSON.

Kitty had been 10 the Charity pan, ana tne
charity ball was very fashionable; there was
no doubt about that Kitty had eaten late
supper, returned home, gone TO bed and to
sleep; there was no more doubt about that She
recollected distinctly throwing one shoe under
the he'd and the other into a corner, saying
good night TO her own figure in the looking
glass, twisting the figure of a butterfly till
her fingers ached, before she discovered that
it was not in the gas stopper, and then Laughs
ing sleepily at all her mistakes. She even re
| membered the first dream of her sleep, which
was something about charity diamonds,
chicken salad lanciers, and ice cream waltzeS.
No; there was no doubt that she had gone
all through this; yet there she was, staring in
at the window of the great ballroom, and the
| ball was just commencing. Could she have
gone to seep on the window sill in some mys-
FERROUS mannerl No; she was outside, and
stumbling in the air with somebody holding
| her hand.
"0h dear" thought Kitty, mournfully; II
| must have drunk some wine somehow. How
| strange it is! wonder how / came herea
| But what cold hand holds mine; it's not
| papas, for it makes me SILVER, He must be
horrid. won't look at him. SoT
There did not seem to be much need of the
resolve, however, for the person who held
| her hand did not move nor seem to care
whether she saw him or not, but quietly
looked in with her. So at last, like most
| girls, Kitty's curiosity got the better of her,
and she glanced ont of the corners of her
eyes
Beside her she saw an old man. His beard
| and hair were long and white, and drooped
| about his neck and shoulders like falling
| snow. Upon his head was lightly placed a
crown, as of frost work, so delicate was its
texture, Robes long and dark, and cold to
| look at, fell in broad folds from his shoulders
and We're held to his waist by a girdle of
twinklng stars. He was gazing in at the
brilliant assemhlage with a sad, melancholy
look upon his face.
Kitty looked at his robes 'How very old
| fashionedr she thought; "and aged, very
agedl"
"Yes, murmured the old man, "olh, very
old" @
Kitty started. He read her thoughts evi
IDENTIFY. She was sorry now she had thought
it. be looked so sad.
who are youl" asked Kitty. timidly, "and
why have YOU brought me herei'
Il am the Cold Night" said the old man
slowly turning his eyes toward her His eye:
were sharp and piercing, yet full of kindness
And l have brought you here that You
might see how great your charity is, for
heard this was charity ball"
/ Yes said Kitty, nervously.
Il am friend to the poor, continued th'
Cold Night; and | love to see charity HI
looked back into the ballroom as be spoke
"You see all your friends here"
Yes said Kitty, frightening up ant
gazing inside with something of proud look
There's FlorTy Hall right before the win
dow now. She has those beautiful sohtair
diamonds in her ears. Oh, dear, how brigh
) they look | wish had them
But Won have the handsomest dress, sait
the Cold Night, sadly.
''Oh, yes" exclaimed Kitty, quickly. u
was of the richest silk, and cost severa
hundred dollars. Papa was 50 kind"
And it was bought for charity'' asked tn
Cold Night
"Why no. answered Kitty in surprise, ''fo
me, of course
But the ball is for charity"
Kitty began to be bewildered by so Inuc
eriticising; and she was much relieved whe
he led her away.
They descended to the grand entrance
where he pointed out two little beggars, DO
and girl, who fiddled and sang, and aske
q penny of the rich people descending frof
4 the carriages.
: "You passed them by tonight"
] @Ycs.7 said Kitty; ''hut they were horri
| beggars.7 The Cold Night was silent, an
e Kitty thought she might have said sofnethin
, wrong; 50 she added: "and common stree
fiddlers" But the Cold Night said nothing
They both watched the little duo, "Tose
and Tibbv,7 the Cold Night said, and dre'
nearer to hear what they would say. reopl'
I rich with money and great in charity, carr
; fully passed them by. for they were ragge
beggars and fi1dlei and sang 1t was COLI
very cold; and Tosey played very, yer
, slowly. while the breath of Tibby's quiverin
: plant disappeared despairingIy in the frost
air The wheels of the carriages seemed
4 creak in sympathy. as they crushed down ii
1 | SHOW. Yes; it was cold indeed, vet the
fiddled and sang untiringly, while the ric
people alighted and passed up the grand el
( trance, after CHANGING contemptuously at Il
" poor little duo, who fiddled and sang as Il
brilliant dresses disappeared in the distai
/. doorway. but finally stopped as the last "a
a riagc drove away.
G Il suppose we looks too awful, said Tose,
wetting his lips, and feeling vacantly in II
Il small pocket, which, God knows, had N
seen 50 much as n dime for many da'
) yes" said libby, 'but does feel so hungr,
= and sang so loud, and l tried so hard, an
~ libby slightly sobbed, and silently use
- r. l.,
q tear.
s Don't cry, said Tosey, TREMENDOUSLY; "let
move on, and perhaps we'll find o little som
thin. Oh, if we only had a few pennies
Tosey took Tibby's hand, and they started
move away.
!, "Oh, Mr.. Cold Night" exclaimed Kit
y sorfowfully; net me give them something
. poor little things"
: "But they are beggars," answered the Co
Night
Kitty looked ashamed She couid fe
4 herself blush, even though she was cold al
shivering. The Cold Night handed her
n silver piece.
Eyes said he: drop it, even if it
wasted See what they will do"
Kitty took it quickly, and dropped it b
" fore them Right at Tibby's foot fell Il
II money, which she would have passed u
d noticed if Tosey had not exclaimed:
'Oh Tihby, there's a dinner and pick,
it up.
d libby clapped her hands in delight, dane
!. up and down, and then looked into his haI
to see if it was really there. It was surely.
won't we have a hot potato thought sa
Tosey.